Eraser holder for pencils



Oct. l, 1940. A. SCHARF ERASER HOLDER Fon PENcILs Fied March 15, 1940I!! Il] f l! Patented Oct. 1, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEApplication March 13,

5 Claims.

This invention relates to eraser holders or ferrules used in conjunctionwith lead pencils having a Wooden body or the automatic type known as alead clutch holding pencil.

One of the main objects of my invention is to provide a ferrule whichhas means for protecting the surface being erased when the eraser isWorn down to the level or top edge of the ferrule holding member.

Another object o-f my invention is to provide reinforcingT means to thetop edge of a ferrule member in order to strengthen the same and make itmore rigid so as to resist breakage.

Another object of myinvention is to provide eraser holding ferrule meanswhich is attachable to a wood pencil or an automatic pencil and whichhas resilient spring holding means adapted to hold adjustably,removably, and securely an eraser in a set or Xed position.

Another object of my invention is to provide resilient flexible prongmeans for adjustably and securely holding an eraser in a fixed positionwithin an automatic pencil, the said prong means being held frictionallyin contact with the eraser by virtue of sleeve means or recess means inthe end of a pencil.

Another object of my invention is to provide in addition to the meritsand advantages heretofore enumerated in eraser holding ferrules, anarticle which is not more expensive to manufacture than the presentferrule member.v

Another object of my invention is' to-produce a simple, practical,eflicient, article of the character to be described which is durable andalso economical to manufacture in quant-ity production. Y Y

Other features, objects, and advantages to be attained as a result ofthe structure hereinprovided will be readily apparent, upon readingfurther the description in connection with the drawing forming a part ofthe application in which like numerals are used to'designate like partsand in which: f

Fig. 1i` is a front elevation of an ordinary lead pencil with myinvention attached thereto.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary and enlarged crosssectional view of one form ofmy invention taken on the line 2-2A of 'Figure l.'

Fig. 3 -is a fragmentary and enlarged crosssectional view of a modifiedform of my invention.

Fig. 4 is a transversal cross-sectional View on the line 4-4 of Figure3.-

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a modified form of myvinvention vused in connec- 1940, Serial No. 323,717

(Cl. 1Z0- 38) tion with an automatic type of pencil or in connectionwith a telescopic sleeve holding means for more effective operation, andwhich may be attached to the ordinary Wood lead pencil.

Before explaining the structure of my inven- 5v tion, I feel that it isIadvisable to elucidate rst upon the reasons why I have created thisinvention. Being a frequent user of pencils in my work, and inasmuch asI have to do considerable erasing, I have found that erasers Worn downto the edge of the ferrule cause considerable damage to the materialupon which the eraser is used.

The erasers in due course of time become worn, and when they are Wornclose to the raw edge or unfinished edge of the present ferrules whichare provided for the purpose of holding erasers on the ends of pencils,the raw edge will sometimes cause the material being erased or paperbeing erased to be scratched and torn. Furthermore I have had occasionto observe `that a great many individuals have a habit of chewing uponthe end of the pencil which holds the eraser, in which event the edge ofthe ferrule which is not very strong is bent into irregular shape,whereby sometimes breaks appear in the material and very sharp pointsare thus formed which have a tendency to tear the paper.

Such individuals, who have a habit of chewing pencils find thatsometimes, because of this habit, their lips become scratched orirritated by the edge of the ferrule having become very erose and rough.It is with these two situations that I, myself, have had to contend, andfor this purpose I have created the improvement comprising my invention.

.Referring more particularly to Figure l, 6 generally designates apencil, and 'l the ferrule attached to an ordinary lead pencil, whereas`ll designates the eraser used for purposes of erasure and makingcorrections.

Referring to Figure 2, where one form of my invention is illustrated, lgenerally designates' my invention which is a sleeve or shell made ofsheet metal or of any other suitable material, and which 0' is attachedto the Wooden pencil 9 at a point indicated by the numeral 8, this beingusually accomplished by a piercing punch operation, in order to breakthru the material from which the ferrule 'I i s made up, thus wedgng itinto the Wood of the pencil body 9.

This leaves a portion above the pencil endv IIJ vacant, so as to'recevethe eraser Il. Now, my improvement to the construction is provided bythe formation of a bead l2 on the top edge of the ferrule, which as astandard product, at the present time, is made with the raw edge orsharp edge of the material from which the ferrule is made to end upabruptly and as indicated by the dotted line 30.

The top edge, as can be seen, would thus be very sharp and the outsideedge when the eraser is worn down to the level of the top of the edge30, would thus tend to tear paper or material upon which erasures are tobe made.

Altho it can be seen, by examining drawing Figure 2, why the arrangementor stucture as indicated at 3i) would be easily broken by biting or ifaccidently stepping thereon, thus subjecting the material upon whicherasures are made to even greater damage, tearing and destruction.

My improvement comprises the bead I2 which converts the raw edge 3D byfolding over the material and into the bead formation I2, whichoperation can be produced without any additional expense by modifyingthe dies which make such ferrules so that simultaneously with theoperation of making the ferrule, the beading can be done without anyextra cost and without adding any extra material to the structure; yetderiving two decided advantages in that a stronger top edge is providedby the bead I2 as a protection at such time when the eraser is worn downto the dotted position or level 29, or when the top surface of the beadI2 should touch the paper while erasing, in that event the round smoothbeaded portion would, in fact, burnish over the portion of the paper,thus if changes or alterations have to be made the fibers of the paperhaving been burnished will provide a smooth surface susceptible ofreceiving ink or pencil corrections.

In Figure 3, the construction is the same as in Figure 2 wherein theeraser II is secured to the bead I2, my invention being generallydesignated I3 and which, however, is secured by the pierced portions I4to the pencil 9 in the same manner as explained in Figure 2.

The improvement, in this modication, is the arrangement whereby Iprovide at least three prongs which emanate from drilled portions I6 andthe recessed portion 2i! and thus may be caused to ex inwardly oroutwardly from the anchorage point at the base wherein the relief holesI6 are provided.

The prongs I'I are approximately shaped as indicated, being coiled overor beaded over as indicated at I9 in order to remove any rough edgeswhich might interfere with the handling of the pencil or instrument, andthey are provided with a straight portion toward the top which ispreferably knurled as indicated at I8, and which is adapted to grip theeraser I! substantially so that the eraser will be held rather tightlyby the friction exerted by the prongs I'I by virtue of the spring actionof the prongs I'I and the knurled or roughened surface I8.

It would be possible, with this arrangement, to take hold of the exposedportion of the eraser I I and pull it outwardly, whereas by virtue ofthe spring tension of the portions I'I and the gripping surface I8, theeraser could not be pushed backward during the erasing procedure, thetendency of the prongs being in an inward direction would have atendency to sustain the eraser in any position placed once it is pulledout or upwardly. 1

If the eraser is pulled too great a distance outward when adjusting theeraser for wear, then by actuating the prongs with a pin or other Figure4 further indicates, in exaggerated de-v tail and enlarged form, themethod in which the three prongs I7 hold the eraser in position againstrotation and against downward movement. The niuneral 24 indicates thecompression to which the eraser I I is subjected in order to effect afirm grip of the same.

In Figure 5, I show an arrangement which is preferably adaptable for thehollow sleeve or recessed portion in an automatic clutch pencilindicated by the numeral 2|. However, this modified form for grippingthe eraser more substantially and more effectively may also be utilizedon an ordinary wood lead pencil by adding the extra sleeve element 2|.In an automatic pencil that portion is an extension of the bodymechanism of the pencil, and the eraser II may be held in my ferrulearrangement indicated, and generally designated by 2I.

In this View my holder is beaded at the tcp the same as heretoforementioned and for the same purpose and reasons, and is provided withthree prongs operating in the recesses 26 with relief holes 24 in orderto obtain ideal spring actuation of the spring portions 25.

The inner portion of the ferrule 22 is adapted to receive the eraser IIand the lower portion is beaded over inwardly as indicated at 23, sothat, if necessary, the pencil itself may be inserted thru the openingprovided by the bead 23 at the lower portion and the eraser ejected oradjusted for wear; and in like manner, when the eraser has been worndown to the top surface of the bead 2I, the bead will serve the purposeof burnishing and protecting the surface as well as the ferrule itselffrom accidently being destroyed when dropped or from chewing it.

I believe, I have described, rather succinctly the nature of theimprovement added to the standard structure of an eraser holding ferruleto be attached to the end of a pencil or other similar instruments, and,I believe, that I have described in detail the advantages and featuresto be derived from my invention so that those familiar with the art willhave no difficulty in grasping the importance of my invention.

Altho, I have shown preferred forms of my invention yet I feel that itis suscepticle of many alterations, modifications, and improvements, andhence I hereby reserve the right to all such modications` alterations,and improvements which may result from the design, engineering,development, and manufacture of my invention in accordance with thespirit and scope thereof, and the purview of the foregoing descriptiontaken in connection with the drawing comprising a part of thisapplication; my invention to be limited only to the subjoined claims.

I-Iaving thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an article of the character described, eraser holding meansprovided with bead means located on the edge of the eraser holdingportion from which the operative portion of an eraser projects, the saidbead means produced by spin'- ning outwardly the edge on which it isformed.

2. In an article of the character described, eraser holding meansprovided with bead means located on the edge of the eraser holdingportion from which the operative portion of an eraser projects, the saidbead means produced by spinning outwardly the edge on which it isformed, and prong means formed integrally with said eraser holding meansadapted to hold in operative position frictionally and adjustably aneraserv member, the said prong means provided with a beadedportion atits free end, and a knurled surface portion intermediately positionedbetween the free end and the base of the said prong means.

3. An article of the character described, comprising eraser holdingmeans provided with bead means located on the edge of the eraser holdingportion from which the operative portion of an eraser projects, the saidbead means produced by spinning outwardly the edge on which it isformed, prong means formed integrally with said eraser holding meansadapted to hold in operative position frictionally and adjustably aneraser member, the said prong means provided with a beaded portion atits free end, and a knurled surface portion intermediately positionedbetween the free end and the base of the said prong means and an erasermember frictionally and adjustably secured to the said eraser holdingmeans so that the effective operative portion of said eraser memberprojects beyond the said bead means.

4. An article of the character described comprising, a ferrule memberhaving a multiplicity of piercing perforations adapted to be attached tothe end of a pencil leaving a vacant portion extending beyond the end ofsaid pencil, the said ferrule member further provided with bead means onthe free end thereof, the said bead means produced by spinning outwardlythe edge on which it is formed, resilient eraser holding means comprisedof a number of prong holding portions adapted to hold an eraser inoperative position, frictionally and adjustably, the said prong meansprovided With a beaded portion at its free end, and a knurled surfaceportion intermediately positioned between the free end and the base ofthe said prong means.

5. In combination, sleeve means, and a ferrule member telescopicallysecured to the said sleeve means, the said ferrule member provided withbead means located on the edge of the eraser holding portion from whichthe operative portion of an eraser projects, the said bead meansproduced by spinning outwardly the edge on which it is formed and prongmeans formed integrally with said ferrule member adapted to holdfrictionally and adjustably the said eraser, the said prong meansprovided with a beaded portion at its free end, and aknurled surfacepor- "tion intermediately positioned between the free end and the baseof the said prong means.

' 'ANTHONY SCHARF.

